Beach "Anse Matelot" · Praslin

Highlights:

The secluded atmosphere of this beach is unique, largely due to the difficulty of access. The beautiful granite boulders are another highlight.

Facts:

200m x 5m - empty at all times

Fairly deep water - seaweed present all year-round

Tide changes quickly - small waves

Unique, isolated beach that can only be reached by boat

Good for swimming and snorkelling

Map:

At a Glance:

A strange beach, in that it can only really be accessed by boat.

It is possible to reach it by land, but this route is dangerous and should only be attempted by experienced rock climbers.

Water can be deep, but there is no sharp drop off so it is safe for swimming.

Beautiful rock formations line the beach, however the sand is almost always covered in seaweed due to the currents.

Shade provides protection from the sun.

Description:

Anse Matelot is a strange, unique beach on Praslin. It is extremely isolated due to the general difficulty of access to the beach, so visitors to the beach are few and far between. This means that anyone who does reach Anse Matelot will likely find themselves the only people there, great for anyone who wants to get away from it all and relax, swim, or snorkel in peace and quiet.

Getting to the beach is problematic. While it is possible to reach Anse Matelot on land, this way is dangerous, and requires some rock climbing. We would strongly advise against attempting this route unless you are an experienced rock climber and you are accompanied by a guide. Getting to the beach via the sea is easier, with arrival possible by boat or canoe. Anse Volbert is just 10 minutes away by boat, so it is perfectly possible to take a detour to Anse Matelot if you wish.

At the beach there is, as you can imagine, very little. The water here is fairly deep, but is still safe for swimming as there is no sharp drop-off. The sand itself is lined with beautiful rock formations, but there is also a constant presence of seaweed on the beach due to the currents that pass by the bay. In addition, the tide can change quite quickly, so visitors should be careful to stay vigilant.

While it may seem more trouble than it’s worth, Anse Matelot does have plenty to offer, especially the prospect of being the only visitors to this quiet, secluded beach. The beautiful scenery here can be slightly ruined by the near-constant presence of seaweed, but in fact this adds to the natural, secluded atmosphere of the beach.

The restaurant of the Hotel l'Archipel is located on the beach of Anse Gouvernement, and offers an incredible à la carte menu consisting of local cuisine and international food. Now and then, the restaurant also offers barbeques, Creole buffets, live music, and much more besides.

Les Lauriers is a restaurant that serves up traditional grilled Creole cuisine every evening (except Wednesday), including different fish and meat specialties which are prepared before your eyes. Besides that, there is also a buffet where you can help yourself to different salads and curries, and after the meal enjoy a delicious dessert.

The concept of the restaurant is one where no fixed a la carte menu is in place, but rather a daily changing variety of fresh fare in which the products are sourced daily from local producers and is skillfully prepared in order to enable diners to enjoy a combination of flavours and textures. Not your typical traditional creole cuisine, but a lighter interpretation.

The excellent Pirogue Restaurant and Bar is located on the Cote d'Or on Praslin, and its Creole cuisine and international delicacies are fantastic. From time to time, local bands perform live music here, which only adds to the atmosphere. Besides the delicious food, the restaurant's bar serve up delicious cocktails and wines.

Discounts and Special Offers*

Special offer - You save 5%

Valid in travel period: 01.11.2018 - 31.10.2020 Not valid in travel period: 24.12.2019 - 06.01.2020 Offer valid if the length of stay is between 4 and 5 nights (inclusive) in valid travel period Only with Breakfast

Valid in travel period: 01.11.2018 - 31.10.2019 Not valid in travel period: 24.12.2019 - 06.01.2020 Offer valid if the length of stay is between 6 and 9 nights (inclusive) in valid travel period Only with Breakfast

Valid in travel period: 01.11.2018 - 31.10.2020 Minimum stay: 5 nights in valid travel period Does not apply for all room categories

Stay for a minimum of 5 nights and get 1 night free, plus 1 free bottle of wine.
*Couple must have been married fewer than 9 months beforehand, and provide proof at check-in.
Can be combined with the 15% early booking discount and the 15% special discount (Seagull).